Today is the Spring Equinox - day and night are equal and about to tip the balance in favour of longer, lighter days. Yippee! Nature is reawakening, it's a time for energy and growth, and the perfect time to cleanse, inside and out (and I'm not just talking about housework)!

As part of my New Year's Resolutions, I wanted to replace as many 'toxic' products with organic alternatives. With the press reporting in the past few weeks the link between parabens (used extensively in beauty and skincare products) and breast cancer, and revelations about leading cosmetic companies using lead in their lipsticks it seems a good time to elaborate on my own personal crusade!

I haven't made any New Year's resolutions for several years now - because I never keep them. But this year I feel more motivated to make changes for the better so I thought I'd give it a go. And perhaps sharing my progress will help me stay on track and reach my goals.

So what's so different this year? Well, I have a significant birthday coming up and they tell me "life begins" so it's an added incentive for change. Plus, over the last two years I have managed to address a few minor health issues that used to get in my way (and provide an easy excuse when I couldn't be bothered).